The L'Arche Canada of Toronto, Ontario, Canada Daily Thoughts with Jean Vanier for Tuesday, 22 November 2016 "Learning for Today's Communities"

The L'Arche Canada of Toronto, Ontario, Canada Daily Thoughts with Jean Vanier for Tuesday, 22 November 2016 "Learning for Today's Communities"
We should not forget the old communities which have worked the earth and lived peacefully and whose traditions go back centuries. People who are coming into community have a lot to learn from the wisdom of these communities which are living the gift of fidelity.[Jean Vanier, Community and Growth, page 254]
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The L'Arche Canada of Toronto, Ontario, Canada Daily Thoughts with Jean Vanier for Monday, 21 November 2016 "The Gift of Discernment"
Some people have a true gift of discernment. They can seize what is essential in a complicated discussion or a confused story. They are quick to understand what is really needed and at the same time, if they are practical, they can suggest the first steps towards putting people on the road to healing. Some people in a community who do not have an important position may have this gift of light for us. We must learn to listen to them.[Jean Vanier, Community and Growth, page 253]

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The L'Arche Canada of Toronto, Ontario, Canada Daily Thoughts with Jean Vanier for Sunday, 20 November 2016 "The Gift of Listening"
This is an important gift in community. But if we are able to listen, we must offer security. An assurance of confidentiality is an essential part of being a listener. This means knowing how to respect the wounds and the sufferings of others and not divulging these.[Jean Vanier, Community and Growth, page 253]
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The L'Arche Canada of Toronto, Ontario, Canada Daily Thoughts with Jean Vanier for Saturday, 19 November 2016 "The Role of the Leader"
The [community] leader is not simply the guardian of the law, although that is one aspect of his role. He is there to guarantee the freedom and growth of individuals according to the inspiration of God.[Community and Growth, page 239]

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The L'Arche Canada of Toronto, Ontario, Canada Daily Thoughts with Jean Vanier for Friday, 18 November 2016 "An Orchestra"
A community is like an orchestra: each instrument is beautiful when it plays alone, but when they all play together, each given its own weight in turn, the result is even more beautiful. A community is like a garden full of flowers, shrubs and trees. Each helps to give life to the others.[Jean Vanier, Community and Growth, page 251]


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The L'Arche Canada of Toronto, Ontario, Canada Daily Thoughts with Jean Vanier for Thursday, 17 November 2016 "Accepting God's Presence in Ourselves and Others"
Peace comes as we no longer seek to prove that we are right, as we live the truth of forgiveness and reconciliation and accept the light and presence of God within us and within others.[Jean Vanier, Drawn into the Mystery of Jesus, page 300]



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The L'Arche Canada of Toronto, Ontario, Canada Daily Thoughts with Jean Vanier for Wednesday, 16 November 2016 "Welcoming God"
By ourselves we cannot bridge the gap that separates the finite from the Infinite. God reaches out to us and we become holy as we welcome God who comes to us. [Jean Vanier, Drawn into the Mystery of Jesus, page 296]




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The L'Arche Canada of Toronto, Ontario, Canada Daily Thoughts with Jean Vanier for Tuesday, 15 November 2016 "Opening our Hearts to the Infinite"
The barriers that separated the finite from the Infinite, the temporal from the eternal, the human from the divine, have disappeared... It is not a question of striving towards God but of humbly opening the door of our hearts to God who is knocking there.[Jean Vanier, Drawn into the Mystery of Jesus, pages 275-6]





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